[The systematic division of this order given above is founded upon that of A. P. de Candolle. Prantl (Engler and Prantl, Nat. Fam.), 1891, adopts a somewhat different system, which may briefly be summarised as follows:—
- A. Hairs unbranched or absent; no glandular hairs.
- 1. Thelypodieæ. Stigma equally developed on all sides; style undivided or prolonged above the middle of the carpels, or turned back.—Stanleyinæ; Heliophilinæ.
- 2. Sinapeæ. Stigma strongly developed above the placenta; style beaked or two-lobed.
- a. Cotyledons arising behind the bend of the embryo.—Lepidiinæ.
- b. Cotyledons arising at the bend of the embryo.
- α. Only lateral nectaries. Generally a silicula or indehiscent fruit.—Cochleariinæ.
- β. Generally a siliqua, more rarely a silicula or transversely-divided or indehiscent fruit. Nectaries generally lateral and median.—Alliariinæ; Sisymbriinæ; Vellinæ; Brassicinæ; Cardamininæ.
- B. Hairs collectively or partially branched, very rarely entirely absent; glandular hairs are sometimes also present.
- 1. Schizopetaleæ.
- 2. Hesperideæ. Stigma strongly developed above the placenta; style undivided or prolonged above the placentæ into shorter or longer lobes.
- a. Surface cells of the replum, not divided diagonally.—Capsellinæ; Turritinæ; Erysiminæ; Alyssinæ.
- b. Surface cells of the replum divided diagonally.—Malcolmiinæ; Hesperidinæ; Moricandiinæ.
Fig. 412.—Isatis tinctoria. Fruit (Fig. 412); and in longitudinal section (Fig. 413). (Mag.)
Pollination. Honey is secreted by the nectaries mentioned above; but the position of the stamens is not always the most favourable for pollination by insects (in these flowers the honey-seeking insect must touch the anthers with one of its sides and the stigma with the other), and self-fertilisation is common. In some species (Cardamine pratensis) the long stamens turn their anthers outwards towards the small stamens, so that 3 anthers surround each of the two large entrances to the nectaries.
1200 species (180 genera), especially in the cold and temperate parts of the Old World (Europe, W. Asia). Many are weeds in this country, e.g. Wild Cabbage (Brassica campestris), Charlock (Sinapis arvensis), Wild Radish (Raphanus raphanistrum) and others.—The order is acrid and oleaginous. Oil is obtained from many of the oil-containing seeds, especially of the Rape (Brassica napus), Summer-Rape (the oil-yielding cultivated form of the Field-Cabbage) and Camelina. Several are pot-herbs or fodder plants, e.g. Cabbage
(Brassica oleracea) with its numerous varieties: Cauliflower (var. botrytis; the entire inflorescence is abnormally branched and fleshy), Kohlrabi (var. gongylodes, with swollen, tuberous stem), Kale, Red-Cabbage, White-Cabbage, etc.; B. campestris, var. rapifera (Turnip); B. napus, var. rapifera (Swede); Raphanus sativus (Radish from W. Asia), R. caudatus (long Radish); Nasturtium officinale (Water Cress), Lepidium sativum (Garden Cress), and Barbarea præcox (Early Cress); Crambe maritima (Sea-Kkale). The seeds of the following are especially used as spices: (the flour of) Melanosinapis (Black-mustard), and Sinapis alba (White-mustard), which are officinal like the root of Cochlearia armoracia (Horse-radish, E. Eur[**.]). The herbaceous parts of Cochlearia officinalis and danica are medicinal.—A blue dye (woad) is extracted from Isatis.—Ornamental plants: Cheiranthus cheiri (Wallflower), Matthiola (Stock), Iberis, Hesperis, Lunaria, and others (especially from S. Eur.). Sweet-scented flowers are rare.
Fig. 414.—Gynandropsis pentaphylla.
